After the typhoon...

The day after we drove to the east side of the bay to check out Fu Kyo.
Around Shikanoshima the waves were huge.

 SCARY!

In the west migrating birds had increased. After watching some Wood Sandpipers, Long-toed and Red-necked Stints and a Common Redshank I hung around to see the Black-winged Stilts. I love these birds. Can't get enough. My plan to look for the Siberian Blue Robin got delayed.

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ

There were 11 birds, young birds as well as adults

Mostly wandering in small groups, but gathering and lining up when a predator was spotted.

Would this make them seem to be one big bird?

Preening or flirting?

Typhoon hair-do, eh feather-do

Occasionally a bit of hustling and bustling of course.

Some Egrets flew in...

One got a bit upset

But eventually all were quite tolerant.

Even the Heron. with its impressing wingspan Grey Heron, アオサギ 

The young ones are so cute! Born this year, still a baby.

From July: Japanese Reed Bunting, コジュリン

These buntings are not very common, but there is one place in the Mt. Aso area where they always come to build their nests. The protected area is full of flowers, some quite rare I heard. it's my favorite in summer, when Fukuoka is just too hot.

Japanese Reed Bunting, コジュリン

One of few birds who can hold its balance with legs on different flower stems

Singing out loud all day long, most active in the morning

The Day Lilies don't open until later in the afternoon...

so I returned to get a prettier picture :-)

Another bird in that area, but very very far: Black-browed Reed Warbler, コヨシキリ

Daylilies:  Hemerocallis citrine var. vespertina,  ユウスゲ

Mid summer waders

14 August, in the middle of summer activities I took some time off to check the regular fields. The day before I dropped my camera (today - still in shock)

Just 1 juvenile Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ

Still so young but on the way south all by himself, without any parents. That's tough!

Looking for food

Can it eat the snail?

Dropping it...

With a Wood Sandpiper as the only company...

More of those in a nearby field. Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ

 1 bird

 2...

3 all together

And a Long-toed Stint, ヒバリヒギ There were 2 of them actually

Another single as far as I could tell: Common Snipe, タシギ

Nice to see you all again. There were also 2 Red-necked Stints, トウネン and several Little Ringed Plovers, コチドリ in the vicinity. A Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ flew by.

Obon 2015

I don't like summers.

Not so much because of the heat and the sweat.I always seem to lose something - or someone.

Both our parents died in this season. We carried out the proper Japanese Obon ceremonies for our dear mothers here in Fukuoka. Our long-time favorite furry crew member who sailed with us from New Zealand was run over by a car. That was many years ago - in summer.

This year is a different story. With Jaap's new job coming up I will loose my peaceful, worryless dreams at night. And yesterday, right at Obon (August 15th) I stumbled and dropped my second-loved possession: My Nikon D750 and 300mm 2.8f lens... in a muddy lotus pond! 

On Fu Kyo's last day we said farewell to b&b guests from Australia and Japan, had a wild divorce celebration from 11:00am and a quiet hanabi group in the evening.

Goodbye Sunset Cruising

The last BANG